SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
This award has been designed to reward tourism businesses who can illustrate their excellence and commitment to sustainable best practice.
1. Who Can Enter?
Any business directly involved in tourism is eligible, this includes - accommodation, attractions, restaurant / cafes / other retail outlets, tourist information providers and other types of tourism businesses. Any accommodation providers wishing to enter must hold a valid quality assessment rating by either VisitEngland or the AA. Attractions must be signed up to the Code of Practice for Visitor Attractions or be part of the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS) standard.
Short-listed entries will demonstrate proven commitment to sustainable best practice in all areas of their business along with innovation and a track record in making a difference in this field.
Name
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Name of property/Business
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Address
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Telephone
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Website
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Star Rating.................. Award Rating.................. (if applicable)
Participation in other Standard Schemes (e.g. GTBS, VAQAS etc)
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The answers to the following questions form the basis of the submission to the White Rose Awards 2010. The questions should be completed with reference to TWO supplementary folders of graphic information such as photographs, diagrams, charts, sample leaflets or correspondence, access statement, business plan etc which may also be submitted as evidence. Please reference evidence to the appropriate question. Evidence that is not legible, not referenced to a question or poorly presented will not be considered.
2. Business Details
1. What type of tourism business do you run?
Answer: (max 50 words)
2. How long have you been in business at this location? Please state the number of years and months. Are you part of a business chain?
Answer: (max 50 words)
3. Give a brief history of your business, including size.
Answer: (max 100 words)
4. List your target markets e.g. families, specific age groups.
Answer: (max 100 words)
5. Do you hold any awards or independent accreditation relating to the sustainability of your business? If so please give details and dates achieved.
Answer: (max 100 words)
3. Commitment to Sustainability Excellence
Applicants should demonstrate a proven commitment in their business and where appropriate provide evidence that they have encouraged such commitment amongst their stakeholders, to all of the categories below:
· Energy Management
· Water Management
· Waste Reduction
· Encouraging wildlife
· Promoting sustainable transport
· Supporting Local Economy/ Sustainable Purchasing
· Supporting Local Community
1. Please outline below the philosophy relating to your commitment to making your business more sustainable. Do you have a sustainability policy? If so please attach a copy with your entry.
Answer: (max 200 words)
2. Energy Management
What policies and initiatives does your business have in place that has helped to monitor and reduce energy consumption? Please include evidence of any success/ change seen as a result.
Answer: (max 250 words)
3. Water Management
What policies and initiatives does your business have in place that has helped to monitor and reduce water consumption? Please include evidence of any success/ change seen as a result.
Answer: (max 250 words)
4. Waste Reduction
What initiatives does the business engage in to reduce and recycle waste? Please include evidence of any success/ change seen as a result.
Answer: (max 250 words)
5. Encouraging Wildlife
How does your business promote, support and help to protect the local countryside and/or marine environment, wildlife, directly or through links / partnerships with other organisations? What attempts are made to encourage visitors to respect and care for the environment whilst enjoying their time in the area?
Answer: (max 250 words)
6. Promoting Sustainable Transport
Does your business actively encourage visitors and staff to use transport sustainably, e.g. walking cycling, car sharing public transport, etc.? Please describe specific initiatives, incentives and/or methods employed to do so.
Answer: (max 250 words)
7. Supporting Local Economy/ Sustainable Purchasing
Please describe initiatives and activities you have implemented in this area and briefly describe where you have seen particular success?
Answer: (max 250 words)
8. Supporting Local Community
Please describe initiatives and activities you have implemented in this area and briefly describe where you have seen particular success?
Answer: (max 250 words)
9. What has been the most positive impact of your actions (cumulative or individual), either to your business, visitors, community or the environment?
Answer: (max 100 words)
4. Marketing and Communication
The judges will be looking in what way you communicate the sustainable approach of your business to consumers? In particular how you encourage your customers to join in, where appropriate, to support your policies? In addition, if you market your business as being sustainable, judges will look for examples of how this is done and what success can be illustrated.
1. Please provide evidence on how you promote your business and within this how you describe your sustainability activities to consumers in a way that attempts to sell the business?
Answer: (max 200 words)
2. Please outline how you communicate your sustainability activities to others and how you encourage them to take part and make a difference/ help your policies?
· Customers
Answer: (max 150 words)
· Industry (other local businesses/ suppliers)
Answer: (max 150 words)
· Community
Answer: (max 150 words)
5. Staff Engagement
The judges will be looking for examples of how your staff has been engaged in contributing towards the sustainability of the business. For example, what training has been put into practice, what levels of knowledge do staff show to clients on sustainability, how effective are staff supporting the organisation’s sustainability policies?
1. How are your staff encouraged, engaged and trained to support your sustainability policy and contribute ideas of their own?
Answer: (max 200 words)
6. Accessibility
Accessibility issues are high on the tourism agenda due to the Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005. Establishments should clearly demonstrate a knowledge of and commitment to catering for guest with disabilities. The judges will be looking at three areas of evidence:
Information provision
Provision of facilities
Customer Service
The judges will look at how the facilities cater for people with either mobility and/or sensory impairments and what information is provided for your guests.
1. Give details of how your business / service is accessible to all its customers. Has any of the staff attended ‘Welcome All’ training or similar? Please provide a copy of your Access Statement and any access information you provide.
Answer: (max 150 words)
7. Innovation and Inspiration
Being innovative and inspirational in business sets tourism companies apart. Judges will be looking for evidence of your business being inspirational not only to staff and customers but to suppliers and other tourism businesses (locally, regionally or nationally). This can either be achieved by showing consistent improvement of a long period of time or by the introduction of something innovative that has made a significant difference to the sustainability performance of the organisation.
1. Please describe how you feel your business can illustrate a specific innovation, with associated results, or how you have provided inspiration to others?
Answer: (max 200 words)
8. Judging
The presentation of your submission will be judged on the clarity and relevance of the answers to the questions posed and in respect of the seven aspects mentioned previously. Inclusion of relevant material to support the answers you give is encouraged, but it must be both relevant and referenced in the answer.